Systems, Methods, And Software For Providing Wayfinding Orientation And Wayfinding Data To Blind Travelers

ABSTRACT

To support the independence and mobility of blind pedestrians, the present inventors devised, among other things, free systems, methods, and software for providing narrative blind-ready wayfinding information. One exemplary system receives user input identifying a starting landmark and ending landmark in a particular selected geographic region, such as a city, university campus, government building, shopping mall, or airport. The system then searches a database for the corresponding narrative wayfinding instructions, and outputs them in the form of text or audio to guide a blind pedestrian from the starting landmark to the ending landmark. In the exemplary system, blind users select the geographic region as well as the starting and ending landmark from a voice-driven telephonic menu system and receive audible wayfinding instruction via mobile telephone. In some embodiments, the system also provides access to voice-driven restaurant menus.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 61/161,356, which was filed on Mar. 18, 2009. Thisapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND LIMITED PERMISSION

A portion of this patent document contains material subject to copyrightprotection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files orrecords, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. The followingnotice applies to this document: Copyright © 2009, InTouch Graphics,Inc.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments of the present invention concern systems and methodsfor providing wayfinding information to blind and visually impairedpedestrians.

BACKGROUND

Blind pedestrians use a variety of travel aids. Chief among these arewhite canes and guide dogs. However, recent years have seen theemergence of navigational aid systems based on newer technologies, suchas radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and the Global PositioningSystem (GPS).

Although these high-tech systems provide some benefits, the presentinventors have recognized that they suffer from disadvantages that haveprevented widespread adoption. For example, these devices typicallyrequire purchase of specialized hardware, such as RFID readers, that isbeyond the means of many in the blind and visually impaired community.Additionally, the street-based routing information provided by thesesystems is set up for users with normal vision and therefore of minimalto no value to blind and visually impaired travelers.

Accordingly, the present inventors have recognized a need for betterways of providing routing information to blind and visually impairedpedestrians.

SUMMARY

To address this and/or other needs, the present inventors devised, amongother things, systems, methods, and software for providing narrativewayfinding information to blind and visually impaired pedestrians. Oneexemplary system provides a database of preconfigured narrativewayfinding data suitable for blind navigation. The system receives userinput identifying a starting landmark and ending landmark in aparticular geographic region, searches the database for thecorresponding narrative wayfinding data, and then outputs the wayfindinginformation, in the form of text or audio, for guiding a blindpedestrian from the starting landmark to the ending landmark. In theexemplary system, blind users select the geographic region as well asthe starting and ending landmark from a voice-driven telephonic menusystem, accessible via a mobile telephone, personal digital assistant,or computer. In some embodiments, the system also provides indoorwayfinding data to help blind users walk from an entry point of alandmark building or facility to one or more offices, retail shops,offices, automatic teller machines, elevators, restrooms, or otherpoints of interest within facility. Still other embodiments provideoptions for the user to access voice-driven food menus for restaurantsor other types of menus, such as government service menus within afacility.

Additionally, the exemplary system is provided as a free service to allusers with an internet connection, telephone, or cell phone. Facilityand building owners provide financial support for the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary blind pedestrian wayfindingsystem corresponding to one or more embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary method of operating a blindpedestrian wayfinding system, corresponding to one or more embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a facsimile of an exemplary graphical user interface 300,which corresponds to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a facsimile of an exemplary graphical user interface 400,which corresponds to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

This document, which incorporates the drawings and the appended claims,describes one or more specific embodiments of an invention. Theseembodiments, offered not to limit but only to exemplify and teach theinvention, are shown and described in sufficient detail to enable thoseskilled in the art to implement or practice the invention. Thus, whereappropriate to avoid obscuring the invention, the description may omitcertain information known to those of skill in the art.

EXEMPLARY DEFINITIONS

As an aid to understanding the following description, the followingexemplary definitions are provided:

Orientation and mobility refers to a body of knowledge and the specifictechniques within the “blindness education” domain that involve skillsneeded for a blind traveler to develop an awareness of the environment,and the ability to travel through it safely and independently.

Cognitive map: refers to the mental processing involved in acquiring,storing, and retrieving information having to do with one's physical orspatial environment.

“constant contact technique” refers to method of using a long (white)cane technique whereby the cane tip makes continuous contact with thewalking surface as it moves rhythmically side-to-side over in a distanceslightly greater than the physical body width of the individual. Thistechnique is used to guarantee that a blind traveler will detect anychanges of elevation in the walking path.

Wayfinding—refers to the navigational methods used by an individual totravel from one location to another. With respect to “blindnesswayfinding”, it refers to the specific landmarking and safety techniquesthat a blind individual needs in order to accomplish this kind ofdeliberate navigation safely and independently.

Landmarks and landmarking (as they relate to wayfinding for the blind):A landmark is an object that has an auditory, olfactory, proprioceptiveor tactile quality and that has a known permanent location in anenvironment. A landmark must be constant and permanent to qualify as auseful orientation aid for a blind traveler. Once these landmarks areidentified and brought to the attention of a blind traveler, they can beused: to establish and maintain directional orientation; as a referencepoint to establish distance relationships in locating a specific object,to orient or reorient oneself to an area, to determine parallel orperpendicular alignment for straight line travel.

Narrative map (also referred to as verbal, text-based, or auditorymaps): A narrative map is a verbal or text-based description thatassists someone in developing a mental representation of a particularenvironment, or provides the step-by-step instructions required tofollow and maintain orientation along a walking route.

Trailing: Involves the use of one's fingers, a cane, or some residualvision, to follow a surface or guideline along a walking route.Exemplary surfaces include walls, grassline edges, driveways, curbs,etc.

Tactile map: an image that uses raised surfaces and textures thatrepresent an indoor or outdoor environment and that assist in thedevelopment of a spatial map. Tactile maps can be designed with bothBraille and print features.

Exemplary Blind Wayfinding Data System

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary blind wayfinding data system 100. System 100includes blind wayfinding databases 110, a blind wayfinding data servers120, and access devices 130.

Exemplary Blind Wayfinding Data Sources

Blind wayfinding data sources 110 include an indoor-outdoor blindwayfinding database 112, and a destination menu database 114.Indoor-outdoor blind wayfinding database 112 includes indoor-outdoorblind wayfinding route data in the form of narrative walking routesbetween two outdoor points or landmarks (such as intersections,buildings, facilities) or between two indoor points or facilityfeatures, such as entry doors, offices, elevators, restrooms. In someembodiments, routes can encompass both indoor and outdoor landmarks orfeatures. Database 112, which for example takes the form of a SQLdatabase, includes one or more narrative maps.

In the exemplary embodiment, each narrative map takes the form of a setof one or more textual and/or audio instructions, and is prepared byblind mobility specialists, incorporating terminology, techniquerecommendations, and landmarking cues that work for blind travelers. Anexemplary 6-step narrative map is provided in the table below.

Route: Coffman Memorial Hall to Moos Tower: 1. Exit main front doors ofCoffman Memorial Hall. You are facing North in the direction ofWashington Ave. This is a 10-foot wide pathway with grass edges on bothleft and right sides as you walk in a perpendicular direction towardsWashington Ave. Proceed straight until you reach the Washington Avesidewalk in 30 feet. 2. Turn right at this intersecting sidewalk, nowfacing East on Washington Ave. Continue straight and in 50 feet you willreach the first down curb at the T-intersection of Church andWashington. 3. This is a light controlled T-intersection with 2-waytraffic. Cross straight and continue along Washington Ave. 4. Atmid-block, while following the right side edge of this sidewalk (thereis a curb guideline along this right edge), the sidewalk increasessignificantly in width, from 10 feet to 30 feet. This is at the 200-footmarker of this block. 5. Walk straight for another 20 feet and make aright turn, now facing South. Continue straight until you reachascending stairs. Take these 10 steps to the top landing, and walkstraight 20 feet until you find the perpendicular wall of a building. 6.This is Moos Tower. Turn left and here and trail until you feel thedouble door entrance in 20 feet.

Narrative map data is stored in tables in a relational database, whichare generally representative of narrative map data structures, of whichdata structure 1121 is generally representative. Data structure 1121includes a location identifier 1121A, a starting point identifier 1121B,an end or destination point identifier 1121C, and narrative textinstructions 1121D. Location identifier 1121A uniquely identifies ageographic region or facility, such as University of Minnesota, which isassociated with starting point identifier 1121B and ending pointidentifiers 1121C. (It is assumed in the exemplary embodiment thatpedestrians will be traveling within a single location or region;however, other embodiments may provide for starting point and endingpoints that are in separate zones by, for example, allowing a startingor ending point to be associated with more than one locationidentifier.) Narrative text instructions 1121D is itself logicallyassociated with a total steps indicator for indicating the number ofsteps in the instructional sequence, a time stamp indicator forindicating the last time the narrative instructions were updated, anauthor indicator for indicating the author(s) of the narrativeinstruction, as well as one or more narrative step instructions, such asstep 1. Portions of each instructions are further associated with tagsor corresponding fields to identify portions of instructions that areintended to support blind pedestrians.

Additionally, one or more portions of each step instruction areassociated with a GPS coordinates to facilitate use of other data andfunctions that may be correlated to such coordinates. For example, thisallows synchronized output of the instruction as text, Braille, or audiobased on real-time measured or estimated position of the user. However,other embodiments allow the user to advance, pause, or backup to replaypresentation of a narrative map using a voice or manually input command.

Some embodiments support GPS interfacing. This enables users havingmobile phones or other devices with GPS or analogous capability to usersuch GPS data as an input to the wayfinding system. For example, if auser is positioned at a landmark correlated to current positionalcoordinates, the system can receive a generic command such as “fromhere, how do I get to the library,” and have the system be able tocorrelate based on GPS or cell phone tower location data or Wifelocation data to the appropriate set of directions, with appropriateuser confirmation input or preference data to resolve any ambiguities.In some instances, the positional data can be used to negate or defeatpresentation of certain menu options.

In some embodiments, the narrative maps are converted by a multimediaencoding system into multimedia files using encoding servers as part ofthe textual data entry process for the narrative maps. The encodingsystem creates multi-media files of the step-by-step directions andother location information using codecs for MPEG (mp3), Adobe Flash(flv), Microsoft Windows Media (wmv), and Apple Quicktime (mov).

Destination menu database 114 stores one or more textual restaurant (ormore generally government or business service) menus. The menus arestored in the form of one or more data structures, of which menu datastructure 1141 is generally representative. Data structure 1141 includesa menu identifier field 1141A, a location identifier 1141B forassociating the menu with a particular geographic region, an end pointidentifier 1141C for associating the menu with a particular endpoint ordestination within the geographic region, and a time stamp identifierfor indicating when the menu was last updated. Additionally, the datastructure includes a menu narrative field 1141E including the text ofone of more items, such as food or beverage items. Each listed item isassociated with one or more category tags, such as entree, soup, salad,beverage, wheat, eggs, (other known allergens), and as well as pricingdata tags. In the exemplary embodiment these allow for sorting andeliminating menu items from presentation to a given user based on storeddietary and price preferences. (Some embodiments also store thenarrative menus as audio files, or in association with a preferredtext-to-speech synthesizer for the restaurant or business associatedwith the menu.) Data sources 110 are coupled or couplable via a wirelessor wireline communications network, to wayfinding server 120.

Exemplary Wayfinding Server

Wayfinding data server 120, which provides blind wayfinding and menudata to blind and visually impaired pedestrian users, includes aprocessor module 121, a memory module 122, a subscriber database module123, a wayfinding service module 124, and a menu module 125.

Processor module 121 includes one or more local or distributedprocessors, controllers, or virtual machines. In the exemplaryembodiment, processor module 121 assumes any convenient or desirableform. In some embodiments, one or more of the processors areincorporated into servers.

Memory module 122, which takes the exemplary form of one or moreelectronic, magnetic, or optical data-storage devices, storesmachine-readable instructions that when executed by one or moreprocessors, performs one or more of the processes and/or methods asdescribed herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, subscriber module 123 includes one or moresets of machine-readable and/or executable instructions for collectingand storing user account or subscriber data for blind users. (Someembodiments also include sighted or non-blind users.) To this end,module includes one or more data structures, of which subscriber datastructure 1231 is representative. Data structure 123 includes a uniqueidentification portion 1231A, which is logically associated with one ormore fields, such as fields 1231B, 1231C, 1231D, 1231E, and 1231F. Field1231B includes a user account data, such as username and passwords,contact data (such as mobile telephone number and email address), andcredit card billing information; field 1231C includes travel preferenceinformation, such as preferred locations (geographic regions), startingpoints or landmarks, and ending points or destinations. Field 1231Dincludes other preferences, such as dietary preferences, pricepreferences, user allergens, and so forth. Field 1231E includes usergenerated or private narrative map information, which are not generallyavailable to other users. Field 1231F includes a vision status field,which designates the user as sighted or blind, and enables the system tofilter out or leave in blind portions of narrative map data.

In some embodiments, wayfinding service module 124 includes one or moresets of machine-readable and/or executable instructions for receivinguser requests for wayfinding data, searching databases 110, andoutputting wayfinding data (narrative maps) to an access device. Inparticular wayfinding service module 124 includes a speech recognizer1241, a search engine 1242, a text-to-speech converter 1243, a telephonymodule 1244, and a web/http interface module 1245. Speechrecognizer/responder 1241 receives voice commands and requests fromusers, for example locations, starting points, and destinations andprovides query structures to search engine 124. Search engine 124communicates the requests to databases 112, receives the results intextual form, for example, and forward them to text-to-speech module1243 for conversion and output to telephony module 1244 forcommunication with an access device having a telephone capability.Exemplary telephony capabilities include Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol(VoIP) and automated to voice response systems. Web interface module1245 provides web interface functionality and related graphical userinterfaces for receives and fulfilling requests via an HTTP protocol.Text-based and graphical interfaces including web pages consisting ofHTML, AJAX, Javascript, CSS over HTTP. Web interface module 1245 alsosupports entering and displaying narrative map data using HTML forms.Hyperlinks on web pages provide access to multimedia files fordownloading, podcasts, RSS text feeds, and RSS audio feeds. Web pagesalso provide access to streaming of multimedia map data.

Menu module 125 includes one or more sets of machine-readable and/orexecutable instructions for receiving user requests for destination menudata, searching databases 110 (specifically destination menu data 114),and outputting menu data to an access device, as discussed herein, basedon user preferences. Additionally, in some embodiments, menu module 125includes instructions for playing back selected menu options,calculating purchases, and conducting secure credit card transactionsbased on user selected menu options.

Server 120 interacts via a wireless or wireline communications networkwith one or more accesses devices, such as access device 130.

Exemplary Access Device

Access device 130 is generally representative of one or more accessdevices. In the exemplary embodiment, access device 130 takes the formof a personal computer, workstation, personal digital assistant, mobiletelephone, or any other device capable of providing an effective userinterface with a server or database. Specifically, access device 130includes a processor module 131 one or more processors (or processingcircuits) 131, a memory 132, a display/loudspeaker 133, a keypad orboard 134, and user input devices 135, such as graphical pointer orselector 135A and microphone 135B.

Processor module 131 includes one or more processors, processingcircuits, or controllers. In the exemplary embodiment, processor module131 takes any convenient or desirable form. Coupled to processor module131 is memory 132.

Memory 132 stores code (machine-readable or executable instructions) foran operating system 136, a browser 137, and a graphical user interface(GUI) 138. In the exemplary embodiment, operating system 136 takes theform of a version of the Microsoft Windows operating system, and browser137 takes the form of a version of Microsoft Internet Explorer.Operating system 136 and browser 137 not only receive inputs fromkeyboard 134 and selector 135, but also support rendering of GUI 138 ondisplay 133. Upon rendering, GUI 138 presents data in association withone or more interactive control features (or user-interface elements),as shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 4 and further described below. (Theexemplary embodiment defines one or more portions of interface 138 usingapplets or other programmatic objects or structures from server 120 toimplement the interfaces shown or described elsewhere in thisdescription.)

Exemplary Method(s) of Operation

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart 200 of one or more exemplary methods ofoperating a system, such as system 100. Flow chart 200 includes blocks210-299, which are arranged and described in a serial execution sequencein the exemplary embodiment. However, other embodiments execute two ormore blocks in parallel using multiple processors or processor-likedevices or a single processor organized as two or more virtual machinesor sub processors. Other embodiments also alter the process sequence orprovide different functional partitions to achieve analogous results.For example, some embodiments may alter the client-server allocation offunctions, such that functions shown and described on the server sideare implemented in whole or in part on the client side, and vice versa.Moreover, still other embodiments implement the blocks as two or moreinterconnected hardware modules with related control and data signalscommunicated between and through the modules. Thus, the exemplaryprocess flow applies to software, hardware, and firmwareimplementations.

At block 210, the exemplary method begins with collecting and organizingnarrative map and restaurant menu data. In the exemplary embodiment,this entails expert collection and drafting of narrative map data forvarious locations. The narrative map data is uploaded as text into thedatabase. In some embodiments, various portions of the narrative mapdata is tagged to facilitate use, pursuant to data structure 1121. Forexample, the particular map itself is tagged with starting and endinglandmarks, a time stamp, author, total number of steps. Each step isalso separately tagged or labeled with a sequence number. Moreover, someembodiments label or tag portions of the text within each step toindicate for example that the tagged portion is a distance quantity orthat the tagged portion is a blind wayfinding instruction ordescription. This latter tag facilitates filtering of the narrative mapfor use by a sighted person. The exemplary embodiment also collectstextual menu data and structures it according data structure 1141.Exemplary execution continues at block 220.

Block 220 entails receiving a wayfinding request from a blind pedestrianuser. In the exemplary embodiment, this entails user making a selectionfrom either a graphical user interface or via voice command menu, usinga mobile telephone or personal digital assistant or personal computer.In the case of a graphical user interface, the exemplary embodiment usesinterfaces as shown in FIG. 3. These interfaces guide a user to selector identify a location, such as city, state, university, airport,shopping mall other defined geographic region, or to o initiate a searchof database for relevant blind-ready walking map data. Or, alternativelyuser selects from a drop down menu or list of predefined or dynamicallydetermined locations. In some embodiments, the list and menus arepresented after a user login, which allows the lists and menus to bebased on stored user preference information, such as a stored set offavorite or most recently used locations or regions. Additionally, someembodiments are responsive to current location information, for example,from a Global Positioning System (GPS), to determine which of a set ofavailable lists and menu options are appropriate for presentation to auser, reducing the number of selections for a user to consider oreliminating the need for a user to make a selection at all. This screenalso includes a “change page for low vision” command feature to adjustthe size of the text display and/or enable voice output as the userscrolls over the selection features on the page.

After selection of University of Minnesota from map region definitionpage, User selects a starting point, landmark. In some embodiments, thestarting point is selected automatically based on current user position,which can be determined using positional information in the clientaccess device associated with the user, for example, mobile telephonewith WiFi or GPS positional capability. In some embodiments, thisstarting point, is taken automatically to be the last user selecteddestination. Again, it may also be selected automatically based onstored user preference information.

User then selects a destination from the drop down menu and selects goto initiate a search of database for the blind-ready map data to travel(e.g. walk) from the starting point to the destination. (Someembodiments provide wheel-chair or impaired walker accessible traveldirections which direct users to ramps, railings, and other walkingsurfaces that are designed for use by wheel-chair or other disabledtravelers. Some embodiments also allow users to look for other travelfeatures, such as restrooms, family restrooms, diaper changing stations.

In some embodiments, the selections shown here on a graphical userinterface, are presented as audio to the user via telephone andvoice-activated technologies. Also, some embodiments allow output of thedirections in audio form for selected playback on a mobile clientdevice, as MP3 or podcast. In some embodiments, the playback of theaudio directions is synched to real-time positional information from aGPS system or to n command signal, such as next given verbally or via akeypad or other manual entry from the user.

Block 230 entails outputting wayfinding instructions (blind readywayfinding instructions to an access device carried or used by a blindpedestrian. In the exemplary embodiment the output is provided as audiooutput via a telephony interface or as textual output via a webinterface. FIG. 4 show an exemplary web interface displaying textualrepresentation of blind-ready wayfinding instructions.

Block 240 entails receiving a request for a menu associated with a givenlandmark or destination. In the exemplary embodiment, the destination isby default the destination associated with the most recently fulfilledwayfinding data request. However, in other embodiments, the menu isassociated with GPS coordinates and the system uses the user's currentGPS or similar positional information to determine the most likelymenus.

In block 250, the system output a destination menu to the user in audioand/or text form. In some embodiments, the menu is output based on userpreferences, such as dietary and/or price preferences to reduce datatransfer demands and improve useability of complex menu options.Additionally some embodiments receive voice commands to filter and sortmenu options. Some embodiments also allow users to eliminate items orreserve items as maybes as they are played out. This enables the user torapidly converge on desired selections and ultimately make decisions,and/or place orders via the system.

APPENDIX Sample Narrative Maps Route Alumni Hall to Coffman MemorialHall

-   -   1. Exit main doors of Alumni Hall, staying left and following        this sidewalk. You are walking along the perimeter sidewalk of        the circular driveway that enters Alumni Hall from Oak St., and        are now approaching that main sidewalk of Oak St.    -   2. Turn right at the Oat St. sidewalk, using the parallel        traffic to align yourself with Oak St. Now, facing South, cross        the driveway and continue straight along this sidewalk with Oak        St traffic to your left.    -   3. You will reach the second driveway entrance to Alumni Hall in        75 feet. Cross and continue straight to the intersection of        Washington and Oak St. A solid grassline will be on your right        during this entire block until you reach the corner.    -   4. This plus-shaped intersection has 2-way traffic on both        streets. A pedestrian control button is to the right of the        wheelchair ramp and crosswalk area. Cross Washington St., and        when you step up, turn right facing West.    -   5. This block has a 12 foot wide sidewalk with a solid building        line on the inside guideline for the first ¾ of the block,        followed by a parking lot on the left side for the remaining ¼.        There is always a building edge or curb edge on the left side        guideline until you reach the corner.    -   6. Walnut St. has 2-way traffic, with a stop sign for traffic        entering Washington Ave. It forms a T-intersection with        Washington Ave. There is no stop control for Washington Avenue        traffic here. Cross Walnut St. continuing West.    -   7. The next block begins with a parking lot on the left that has        2 entry driveways. Continue straight past the parking lot and a        solid building line begins on the left side which takes you        directly to the next corner, Harvard St.    -   8. Harvard St. has 2-way traffic, is traffic-light controlled,        and forms a plus-shaped intersection with Washington Ave. Cross        Harvard St. continuing West.    -   9. Proceed straight along Washington Ave for a full block. The        next corner will be Church St. which forms a T-intersection to        the south of Washington Av, and is traffic-light controlled.    -   10. Cross and continue straight. Follow the sidewalk for 50 feet        and take the first left intersecting sidewalk. This turns at a        45 degree angle in the direction of Coffman Memorial Union.    -   11. Follow this sidewalk straight for 250 feet, and it will lead        you perpendicularly to a 12-inch high concrete guideline. Turn        right, and follow this concrete edge 20 feet, then step up, turn        90 degrees to the left and walk straight. In 10 feet, it will        bring you to the main entry doors of Coffman Memorial Hall.

Route Brueggars Bagels to Alumni Hall

-   -   1. Exit the main front door of Brueggars Bagels. This exit        doorway is diagonally oriented towards the intersection of        Washington Ave and Oak St.    -   2. With your back to these doors, the corner of the intersection        is 10 feet ahead. Walk in the direction of 10 o'clock, find the        curb and align yourself to cross Washington Ave. You are now        facing North.    -   3. This plus-shaped, light-controlled intersection has 2-way        traffic on both streets. A pedestrian control button is to the        left of the wheelchair ramp and crosswalk area. Cross Washington        St., continuing North, and in 20 feet, you will find a        grass-line on the left side edge. This edge continues without a        break for approximately 400 feet. The first noticeable change        underfoot is a slight slope down as you approach an entry        driveway leading towards the Alumni Hall building.    -   4. Cross this 20-foot driveway and continue straight. A        grass-line resumes on the left. In another 50 feet, the second        section of this circular driveway appears. Cross this 20 foot        driveway and turn left, now following the right side grass-line        of this entry sidewalk.    -   5. This right-side grass line changes in 50 feet to concrete,        and 50 feet after that it reaches the main entry doorway to        Alumni Hall. Four sets of double doors are found at this main        entrance. Enter these doors and you will be in the main lobby.        Elevators are to your right, following the direction of the        floor carpet, in 150 feet.

Route Moos Tower to Brueggars Bagels

-   -   1. Exit main front doors of Moos Tower facing Washington Ave.        You are facing North. Moos Tower is located on the South side of        Washington Ave, between Church St and Harvard St.    -   2. Carefully walk straight out of these doors, using constant        contact technique (if a cane traveler). You are now approaching        a long edge of perpendicular steps, about 25 feet away. Descend        these stairs (one flight of 10 steps), and when you reach the        lower landing, you will be on the main level of the Washington        Ave sidewalk, but 30 feet from the curb.    -   3. Walk straight to the curb, turn right and proceed parallel to        Washington Ave. You are now walking East. This part of the block        has a large building on the right side which forms the last long        guideline before reaching Harvard St.    -   4. Harvard St has 2-way traffic, is traffic light controlled,        and forms a plus intersection with Washington Ave. Cross Harvard        St continuing East. The next block begins with a solid building        line begins on the right, and ends with a parking lot and 2        entry driveways. Continue straight to the next corner, Walnut        St.    -   5. Walnut St. has 2-way traffic, a stop sign for traffic        entering Washington Ave, and forms a T-intersection with        Washington Ave. There is no stop control for Washington Avenue        traffic here. Cross Walnut St. continuing East.    -   6. Continue East along this entire block until reaching the        first downcurb which is Oak St. This block has a 12 foot wide        sidewalk with a parking lot on the right side for the first ¼        distance and a solid building line on the inside guideline for        the last ¾ distance of the block. There is always a building        edge or curb edge on the right side guideline until you reach        the corner.    -   7. Facing East at the corner of Oak St. and Washington Ave,        Brueggars Bagels is immediately behind you and at 4 o'clock, 10        feet away. Enter through 2 sets of doors, and the main counter        is at 2:00, 30 feet away.

CONCLUSION

The embodiments described above are intended only to illustrate andteach one or more ways of practicing or implementing the presentinvention, not to restrict its breadth or scope. The actual scope of theinvention, which embraces all ways of practicing or implementing theteachings of the invention, is defined only by the following claims andtheir equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A blind traveler navigational data system havinga server, the server comprising: means for receiving informationidentifying first and second landmarks from a set of predefinedlandmarks within a predefined geographic region; means, responsive tothe identified first and second landmarks, for accessing and retrievingfrom a database, blind-ready wayfinding instructions to for guiding ablind or visually impaired traveler from the first identified landmarkto the second identified landmark; and means for outputting theretrieved blind-ready wayfinding instructions to a blind or visuallyimpaired user.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the blind-readywayfinding instructions includes walking path surface information forfacilitating trailing.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means foridentifying two of a set of landmarks includes means for receiving aselection of at least one of the first and second landmarks via atelephone-operated voice-response system.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the means for receiving information identifying first and secondlandmarks includes a graphical user interface at least partially definedby the server.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second landmark isa building, and wherein the server further comprises means, responsiveto a user command, for outputting a listing of indoor destinationoptions associated with the second identified landmark; and means,responsive to selection of one of the indoor destination options, foraccessing and retrieving from a database, blind ready wayfinding datafor guiding a blind or visually impaired (legally blind) traveler froman entry door of the building to the selected one of the indoordestination options.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one of indoordestination option is a business that leases space within the building.7. The system of claim 5, wherein the one of the indoor destinationoptions is an automatic teller machine in the building.
 8. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the one of the indoor destination options is a restroomwithin the building.
 9. The system of claim 5, wherein the one of theindoor destination options is a wheelchair ramp within the building. 10.The system of claim 5, wherein the one of the indoor destination optionsis a tactile map within the building.
 11. The system of claim 5, whereinthe one of the indoor destination options is an elevator within thebuilding.
 12. The system of claim 5, wherein the one of the indoordestination options is an escalator within the building.
 13. The systemof claim 5, wherein the one of the indoor destination options is a waterfountain within the building.
 14. The system of claim 5, wherein the oneof the indoor destination options is an restaurant within the building,and the server further includes means, responsive to a user command, forpresenting at least a portion of a voice navigable voice menu of fooditems for the restaurant.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the serverfurther includes: means, responsive to a user voice command, forreceiving one or more menu selections; means responsive to a subsequentuser voice command for playing back the one or more menu selections; andmeans responsive a subsequent user voice command for communicating an isorder based on the one or more menu selections to an order managementsystem within the restaurant.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein theserver further includes means, responsive to a user command, foreliminating one or more menu items from presentation during an accesssession.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for eliminatingis configured to receive an elimination command from a user during apresentation of a first portion of the voice menu, and during asubsequent presentation of the voice menu for the user (during thesession) the first portion is not presented.
 18. The system of claim 14,wherein the server includes dietary preference data for a user andmeans, responsive to stored dietary preference data for the user, forinhibiting playback of one or more portions of a voice navigable voicemenu.
 19. A method implemented using at least one processor and memory,the method comprising: receiving into the memory information identifyingfirst and second landmarks from a set of predefined landmarks within apredefined geographic region; in response to the identified first andsecond landmarks, using the processor to access and retrieve from adatabase, blind-ready wayfinding instructions for guiding a blind orvisually impaired traveler from the first identified landmark to thesecond identified landmark; and to outputting the retrieved blind-readywayfinding instructions to wireless device carried by a blind orvisually impaired user.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wirelessdevice is a mobile telephone and the wayfinding instructions comprise atext-to-speech synthesis of textual wayfinding instructions.
 21. Amachine-readable data storage medium comprising machine-executableinstructions for: receiving into memory information identifying firstand second landmarks from a set of predefined landmarks within apredefined geographic region; in response to the identified first andsecond landmarks, causing a processor to access and retrieve from adatabase, blind-ready wayfinding instructions for guiding a blind orvisually impaired traveler from the first identified landmark to thesecond identified landmark; and causing a device associated with theprocessor to output the retrieved blind-ready wayfinding instructions toa wireless device carried by a blind or visually impaired user.
 22. Themachine-readable data storage medium of claim 21, wherein the wirelessdevice is a mobile telephone and the wayfinding instructions comprise atext-to-speech synthesis of textual wayfinding instructions.